Topical Bible: Offerings: Things Forbidden as Whatever Was Unclean

◄ Offerings: Things Forbidden as Whatever Was Unclean ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the context of biblical offerings, the concept of uncleanness plays a significant role in determining what could be presented to God. The Old Testament, particularly the Mosaic Law, provides detailed instructions regarding offerings and the conditions under which they were to be made. These laws were designed to maintain the holiness and purity of the worship practices of the Israelites.

Unclean Animals and Offerings

The Book of Leviticus outlines specific regulations concerning clean and unclean animals. Leviticus 11 provides a comprehensive list of animals considered unclean, which were forbidden as offerings. For instance, animals that do not have a split hoof or do not chew the cud were deemed unclean (Leviticus 11:4-8). Such animals were not acceptable for sacrifice, as offerings to God had to be without blemish and from clean species.

Physical Defects and Blemishes

In addition to species classification, the physical condition of the animal was crucial. Leviticus 22:20-22 states, "You must not present anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. When a man presents a peace offering to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or flock, it must be without blemish to be acceptable; there must be no defect in it." This requirement underscores the importance of offering the best to God, reflecting His holiness and perfection.

Human Uncleanness and Offerings

Human uncleanness also affected the acceptability of offerings. Leviticus 7:20-21 warns, "But if anyone who is unclean eats the meat of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people. If anyone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness or an unclean animal or any unclean creature, and then eats any of the meat of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people." This passage highlights the necessity for the offerer to be in a state of ritual purity when making an offering.

Prohibition of Certain Practices

Certain practices were explicitly forbidden in the context of offerings. For example, Leviticus 18:21 prohibits the offering of children to Molech, a pagan deity, stating, "You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD." Such practices were considered abominations and were strictly forbidden, as they violated the sanctity of worship to Yahweh.

New Testament Perspective

While the New Testament does not focus on the ritual laws of clean and unclean animals, the principle of offering what is pure and holy remains. Romans 12:1 exhorts believers, "Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." This reflects a shift from physical offerings to the offering of one's life in holiness and service to God.

In summary, the biblical regulations concerning offerings and uncleanness emphasize the importance of purity and holiness in worship. These laws served to distinguish the Israelites as a people set apart for God, underscoring the reverence and respect due to Him in all acts of worship.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 27:11,27
And if it be any unclean beast, of which they do not offer a sacrifice to the LORD, then he shall present the beast before the priest:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether a Suitable Cause Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies which ...
... blood of your lives": and they were forbidden to eat ... life and a sufficiency of all
good things, the blood ... In the peace-offerings, the breast-bone and the right ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a suitable cause can.htm

Whether There Can be any Suitable Cause for the Sacraments of the ...
... either of mind or of body was expiated by sin-offerings. ... It is forbidden that he
should have "a broken foot ... is signified too much love of earthly things: if he ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there can be any 2.htm

Faustus Fails to Understand Why He Should be Required Either to ...
... God, as Moses recommends, by offerings and sacrifices ... elsewhere to the same purpose,
"These things happened to ... Testament, or which is even forbidden, instead of ...
/.../faustus fails to understand why.htm

Epistle Lxiv. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli .
... live with their clergy: And concerning the offerings of the ... the reason of childbirth,
they are forbidden to have ... law forbids the eating of many things as being ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle lxiv to augustine bishop.htm

The Council of Jerusalem.
... the use of such meats was forbidden, although it ... It is affirmed by some, that "things
strangled, and blood ... The Psalmist speaks of their "drink-offerings of blood ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xvi the council of.htm

The Conversion of Cornelius.
... God, that the precepts with regard to things, clean and ... that of his countrymen, and
was forbidden by the ... The Most High did not reject his offerings, because he ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xiii the conversion of.htm

Jeremiah and Deuteronomy. (Chs. vii, viii. 8, xi. )
... The worship of other gods is forbidden and so is ... Can such things turn Calamity from
thee; Or by ... of the deuteronomic but of all sacrifices and burnt offerings. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 jeremiah and deuteronomy chs.htm

Miscellaneous Subjects.
... refrain from such acts because it is forbidden in the ... a sweet odor unto God must
make such offerings a delight ... are at home laboring in temporal things, and can ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter xvi miscellaneous subjects.htm

All Mankind Guilty; Or, Every Man Knows More than He Practises.
... man loves the sin which is forbidden, more than ... he disagrees with himself, and says
many things that are ... the offended Power by their offerings and sacrifices.]. ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/all mankind guilty or every.htm

Nature of Covenanting.
... Nay, the Israelites were explicitly forbidden to swear by them ... hasten after another
god: their drink-offerings of blood ... And all things are theirs, and they are ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter i nature of covenanting.htm